PASIG CITY, May 29, 2019 – Less than a week before school year (SY) 2019-2020 opens, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones directed all the Regional and Division offices to help ensure that the opening of classes will see less recurrent problems and more learners able to attend school.

“Ang pinaka-urgent na question, paano tayo naghahanda para sa opening ng school year? We have our early registration, school readiness assessment, of course ang Brigada Eskwela, among others. This week, the Department reactivated its annual Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE), with a Public Assistance Command Center (PACC) in the Central, Regional and Division offices, to ensure the readiness and the welfare of our learners,” the Education chief highlighted.

The PACC includes frontline services such as help desks, hotline numbers and email addresses to accommodate the public’s queries and concerns related to the opening of classes. The Regional and Division offices also conduct advocacy and information campaign and employ best practices to help improve the public’s awareness and understanding of the Department’s programs, projects, policies and activities at the grassroots level.

As of morning of May 29, the PACC at the Central Office resolved 739 of the 823 total queries, complaints, requests, and suggestions since its reactivation last May 27. Among the concerns raised were about the Senior High School (SHS) Program, enrollment, school policy and operations, DepEd programs, examinations, resources/facilities, and legal matters.

“Patunay lamang ang OBE na ang edukasyon ay hindi lamang responsibilidad ng DepEd. Andyan ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor na nagtutulungan para ihanda ang ating mga eskwela at mga mag-aaral para sa mas maayos na pagsisimula ng panibagong taon ng pagkatuto,” Brioned noted.

Aside from monitoring OBE activities, the Secretary is also set to visit schools starting June 3 to welcome the learners and to ensure that they are accommodated in a conducive, nurturing, and safe learning environment.

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